OMG I am constantly in awe of the Internet! I have found so many great images to help me. Tonight I have been making (now that the All Blacks have finished playing) a powerpoint about how the Church came to change its approach to that whole Just War theory and push for an end to all wars, supporting conscientious objectors and asking they be given legal protection. I'm pleased. In the mid-50s the view was that in all honesty a Catholic had to fight in a legitimate war, but by the mid-60s, thanks to the writings of the Pope, the Vatican Council and some very good writers out in the world, their thinking changed.

I wouldn't want to go to war. I know Quakers don't go to war. I wouldn't mind being a Quaker sometimes. I very much like the idea of silence. And of simplicity. It's not that I dislike our ritual and ceremony and communion, but I could live without it, no trouble at all. And for all the teaching I do, and the work in the church, it's just a community to me in some ways, because God is wherever I want God to be. I don't need a Church or a priest or Holy Communion for that. But there really aren't any Quakers around here. So I'll stick with St Anthony's for now...

Comments

What you wrote about silence and simplicity reminded me of these words from Isola San Giulio which I visited recently...

The Way of SilenceListen to the silence.Listen to the water, the wind, your steps...In the silence you accept and understand.In the silence you receive all.Silence is the language of love.Silence is the peace of oneself.Silence is the music and harmony.Silence is truth and prayer.In silence you meet the Master.In silence you breathe God.

-I grew up very much in the Christian peace movement in the UK. My Mum was even chair of Fellowship of Reconciliation England for a whileYou hippy child, you! I was teaching Social Justice in Catholic colleges first time I taught secondary school in the early '80s when the Cold War was at its peak, and we did a lot of teaching about the Arms Race and nuclear threats and deterrents. It's all kind of historic now so I guess that is one good thing that the Peace Movement really got on top of!

I was just reading about Pax!!

-mostly_a_cat had a Quaker meeting as part of our wedding celebrationsWhat did that entail? I'm curious. It sounds interesting!